Chargers hopeful Antonio Gates will play this week. Floyd OUT Kaeding OUT

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 18, 2010 3:47 PM ET
When the NFL schedule came out, a lot of folks looked at San Diego's early season slate and said the defending AFC West champions may start out 5-1 or 6-0.

Instead, they are 2-4 with a date against the Patriots coming up this week. And they look more banged up than ever.

First, the bad news: Kevin Acee of the San Diego-Union Tribune reports that wide receiver Malcom Floyd and kicker Nate Kaeding are not expected to play against New England.

The good news: The Chargers are "hopeful" tight end Antonio Gates will suit up despite what appears to be a toe injury. San Diego was also missing wideout Legedu Naanee in a loss to the Rams Sunday.

San Diego's receiver depth is a big issue this week because they could present matchup problems for New England's so-so secondary. The Chargers scored 79 points in their two home games this season.

The Chargers are optimistic tight end Antonio Gates will be able to play against New England despite a toe injury suffered Sunday in St. Louis.

The Chargers, for all their woes, may have caught a break Monday with news that the toe injury Antonio Gates suffered in St. Louis is not serious and the tight end could play this week against the New England Patriots.

“It means a ton,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “As big as not having Legedu (Naanee) or not having Malcom (Floyd) … with what we do with Gates, that’s one that could have an affect on our approach to a game more than the others.”

That said, the Chargers will likely be without Malcom Floyd this Sunday after he strained his hamstring against the St. Louis Rams.

The Chargers are also poised to have to find an other placekicker for at least a week, as Nate Kaeding’s injured groin will likely sideline him for a time. Kaeding “tweaked” his groin in pregame warm-ups and did not kick off Sunday. He did make one 41-yard field goal but slipped while attempting a 49-yarder. That kick caromed off a Rams’ player’s back.

Nick Novak, who made two of his three field goals for the Chargers this preseason, is not an option. Novak is kicking in the UFL.

Floyd left in the second half of the Chargers’ 20-17 loss at St. Louis. He made two catches for 15 yards.

Gates was injured in the first quarter while blocking on a Ryan Mathews’ run. He left the game but returned to make two catches for 12 yards.

Gates referred after the game to having his ankle rolled, but head coach Norv Turner said Monday it was a toe. Turner said the injury was unrelated to the toe injury that hampered Gates in the 2007 playoffs and required offseason surgery.

Gates has started 85 straight regular-season games. He battled through the toe in 2007 and an ankle injury in the 2008 playoffs, catching passes in all five of those games while starting four.

Gates, who has led the Chargers in receptions six straight season, is tied for the NFL lead with seven touchdowns among his 31 receptions. He entered Sunday with the third-most yards (378) in the NFL.

Rivers has never quarterbacked a game for the Chargers that Gates hasn’t played in. Rivers has completed at least one pass to Gates in all but one game in Rivers’ 77 games as a starter (including playoffs).

“I would have to imagine when a defense starts talking about us,” Rivers said, “the first guy they game-plan for is Gates.”

Damn. What the F is this toe injury report now?? I saw his leg get rolled on when he made his first catch, which was the play you could see something had happend to him. The second hit he got to me almost looked like one of those malicious attempt to take him out of the game type hit.

We all kno what Gates is doin playing through injuries. So we got a Decoy Gates that will catch one or two 1st downs to keep the D honest against his ploy to draw coverage for being who he is.

At least Crayton had a great 1st game as a starter for us. 112 yds on 6 catches or somethin like that. We really need Legs on the field. Not only to be a outside threat but he is a great blocker too.

Hi guys, Do you think the horrible start by the chargers, combined with injuries on Floyd, Naanee and Gates (glad he is back, but still..) could make a difference in AJ's priority, and result in VJ reporting back in week 8?

Hi guys, Do you think the horrible start by the chargers, combined with injuries on Floyd, Naanee and Gates (glad he is back, but still..) could make a difference in AJ's priority, and result in VJ reporting back in week 8?

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I doubt it. Our WR's are not the problem... at least not yet. If Crayton continues to step up then we will be fine. Buster on the other hand is playing for his job.

I guess WR are not the problem, but when the team loses, isn't it important to see the team as a whole, and improve every possible aspect of the team?

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Yes. But AJ Smith is a harsh negotiator - don't ever expect him to go groveling to anyone, especially when he sees no reason to. Perhaps having VJax on the field will improve the most productive offense in the league but it's not time to play the "perhaps, we could try" game. AJ wouldn't even entertain that thought for a second anyway.

I can think of 5 players on offense that failed to play their positions well enough to protect the quarterback on Sunday. Philip Rivers' inability to buy time factored heavily into that loss.

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And Norv's inability to adjust the play calling to what the defense is giving us. When they are throwing an all out blitz every down, why do you keep going into a 7 step drop? Get rid of the ball quick, and get the defense to back off on the blitzes.

Can a kicker be put on IR?. If so, do it. For me Nate needs to be gone simple as. I hear you can't cut a guy who is injured so next best thing is IR the lad and dump him when healthy. I have zero confidence in him when he needs to make a kick. I wanna see Goodman get some time on kick returns. Get Sproles more involved in the passing game including playing him in the slot. If anybody can put a move on a guy and get open it is he. Oh and have quicker developing plays instead of the 7 step drop bombs. Also, have Philip practice getting rid of the ball now and again, start throwing it at guys feet and stop 'taking' the sacks. Those 7 sacks sunday were probably 75% O line 25% Philip imho.

Can a kicker be put on IR?. If so, do it. For me Nate needs to be gone simple as. I hear you can't cut a guy who is injured so next best thing is IR the lad and dump him when healthy. I have zero confidence in him when he needs to make a kick. I wanna see Goodman get some time on kick returns. Get Sproles more involved in the passing game including playing him in the slot. If anybody can put a move on a guy and get open it is he. Oh and have quicker developing plays instead of the 7 step drop bombs. Also, have Philip practice getting rid of the ball now and again, start throwing it at guys feet and stop 'taking' the sacks. Those 7 sacks sunday were probably 75% O line 25% Philip imho.

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I think part of it was on Norv continually calling 7 step drop plays, also. Good play calling can mask the lines deficiencies. But Norv calls the same plays, no matter who is in the game, and that is completely moronic. If you have a line that can't block for more than a second or 2, why do you call plays that take 3-4 seconds to develop? People keep calling Norv an offensive genius, but the ability to adjust to what the defense is giving him, is terrible

I think part of it was on Norv continually calling 7 step drop plays, also. Good play calling can mask the lines deficiencies. But Norv calls the same plays, no matter who is in the game, and that is completely moronic. If you have a line that can't block for more than a second or 2, why do you call plays that take 3-4 seconds to develop? People keep calling Norv an offensive genius, but the ability to adjust to what the defense is giving him, is terrible

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Yep totally agree I should have given Norv's playcalling a percentage aswell!!. Just wanted to point out that while we have a fantastic QB and leader he needs to get rid of it more often.

I couldnt have predicted this scenario more during the VJ tirade. Why was it so hard for the faithful to not understand we need as many good players as possible. Sure PR still has good stats but you make guys that were # 3's on the roster now # 2's and on. Take anyone out of that fragile equation and your left with FA castoffs and practice squad guys moving up.

This team hasnt been run poorly, it was staged for this exact scenario. They couldnt have possibly believed losing talent was even close to a good thing... wait... they did, and banked everything on it.

I couldnt have predicted this scenario more during the VJ tirade. Why was it so hard for the faithful to not understand we need as many good players as possible. Sure PR still has good stats but you make guys that were # 3's on the roster now # 2's and on. Take anyone out of that fragile equation and your left with FA castoffs and practice squad guys moving up.

This team hasnt been run poorly, it was staged for this exact scenario. They couldnt have possibly believed losing talent was even close to a good thing... wait... they did, and banked everything on it.

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I don't give a ****, because VJack is not worth 50 million dollars to any team.

If he wasn't going to play for his tender, he wasn't going to play at all...its a business decision that affects the team long term, something of which you are far too immature to understand.